Storm Center Update-Thursday AM

It’s a mild start to the morning in much of KELOLAND with strong winds in a few areas. Sisseton has reported winds over 40mph along with Winner and Pine Ridge. The south winds will be part of the mild weather today with highs ranging from 36 in Sioux Falls to 53 in Rapid City. Showers will develop in the southeast by early afternoon and spread north toward Aberdeen by early evening. Amounts will be light and drizzle will accompany this shield of cloud cover as well.

Drizzle, fog and light rain will continue across eastern KELOLAND tonight, with areas north of highway 14 prone to some freezing drizzle. This freezing drizzle area may even expand west toward Pierre, with a slight chance of a wintery mix in Rapid City. Sioux Falls will see mainly drizzle with temperatures dropping to 32 for a low.

Tomorrow will be changing weather day, with winter storm watches in effect for much of western and northern KELOLAND. This watch includes Rapid City, Mobridge, and Aberdeen. Snow will begin in the Black Hills during the early morning and will spread east toward Pierre by noon. The wind and blowing snow will create poor visibilities West River during the afternoon. In fact, near blizzard conditions will be possible in the far north and west. Aberdeen will experience developing snow and blowing snow in the afternoon, with the worst conditions arriving Friday night.

Farther south, Sioux Falls will spend much of the day above freezing with clouds, drizzle, and a chance of light rain. The arctic front and wind will arrive in Sioux Falls after 8pm, with dropping temperatures and a chance of light snow. While snow will be light in the southeast, the wind and bitter cold wind chills will arrive with wind gusts Friday night over 30mph.

Look for highs on Saturday in the single digits and lower teens, but it won’t feel that warm because of the wind. A slow warming trend will begin Sunday into early next week.